Hi excited about this, I love AO and would love to help out. I have a background in science as I took many undergrad course in science before going on to complete my physical therapy degree. My dd is currently in Y7 so I'm not ready to try it out with her but would love to help out where I can.

I am offering a year 9 science course in my home this year and have 6 students. We are using Microbe Hunters, Periodic Kingdom, some of Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry, First Studies of Plant Life, Longitude.
I already included Fearfully and wonderfully Made by Dr. Brand before I saw this recommendation by Gillen, and since none of my students have done Chemical History of a Candle, we are doing that also.
There are other minor books that I will be using to expand on some ideas and have started my class with a TedTalk.
If it is helpful, I could offer commentary on some or all of this if you wish.

If you are planning to test drive any of the proposed Year 9 books this year, we invite you to comment on the threads we are creating in the Forms IV, V, VI area (Years 9-12) here on the forum. Your comments will really help us!

For those interested in helping with our long-term, ongoing project of creating a living science plan for the high school years:

1) Locate (borrow or purchase or whatever works best for you) The Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds by Gavin Pretor-Pinney. Read chapter 1, and send us a review via PM. (You can PM me.)

2) Read the following passages from books under consideration, and send us a review of each via PM. (You can PM me.)

The Way Life Works

The Joy of Chemistry

Thanks so much for your willingness to help!

Kathy ~Year 0, Form II, Language Arts, and Bible.~
For we are God’s handiwork, recreated in Christ Jesus, that we may do those good works which God predestined for us, that we should walk in them.

(10-05-2016, 01:34 PM)lklivingston Wrote: For those interested in helping with our long-term, ongoing project of creating a living science plan for the high school years:

1) Locate (borrow or purchase or whatever works best for you) The Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds by Gavin Pretor-Pinney. Read chapter 1, and send us a review via PM. (You can PM me.)

2) Read the following passages from books under consideration, and send us a review of each via PM. (You can PM me.)

The Way Life Works

The Joy of Chemistry

Thanks so much for your willingness to help!

Clarification- not all the above books are under consideration for various reasons. Your reviews will not determine whether or not we use a book. We do realize a two or three page sample is hardly a fair sampling of the book. What we are looking for is just a sampling of what *you* would tell us, how you would review books for us. Don't sweat it too much, we are not looking for a formally written precis or anything fancy.

If you'd like to add something about your background and interest to your PM, please feel free. While we very much appreciate those with a science background coming forward to help us out, that is not absolutely required, so if you are interested but your science background is one of personal interest and your own reading and learning, that's fine! Understanding of Charlotte Mason's principles is also *very* helpful, so if you've read her volumes and/or looked at how she did science in her programmes, let us know about that, too.

Wendi C, Advisory, mom to 7, grandma to 14Riches are leavening, not extras.